Movie Reviews

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2: A Flashy Hilarious Sequel with a Weak Plot

Movie Review by Anirudh Madhav (Rocheston Certified Movie Critic)

Following the revelation of each of the characters in the blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy, the sequel to the inter-galactic adventure is back with its focus on family and relationships, enhanced by additional characters, enhanced visuals and plenty of irreverent humor.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 fulfills the promise of Peter Quill’s (Chis Pratt) mother in the first film, where she says that his father would come for him. Following Rocket’s (Bradley Cooper) theft of supercharged batteries from an elite alien race Sovereign, Peter Quill is sought by his father to a planet to unravel the mystery of his existence.

The film begins with a slow-motion action sequence with Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Gamora (ZoeSaldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), while baby Groot (Vin Diesel) delightfully dances in the background. Director James Gunn has once again replicated the success of his previous movie with visuals, action and humor that stands out from the rest of the Marvel superhero flicks.

Even as Sovereign hires Yondu (Michael Rooker) to hunt down the Guardians, Peter Quill and his team realizes the sinister plans of Ego (Kurt Russell). The stunning visuals of the multi-dimensional universe, similar to the scenes in Doctor Strange and the supporting retro soundtracks during action sequences are a delight in itself.

Stakar Ogord (Sylvester Stallone) appears briefly, signaling a larger role in the third part of GotG. While Gamora and Drax have lesser roles compared to the previous movie, Rocket, Groot and Yonda keep us entertained with their humor and action sequences. With brilliant CGI and attention to the make-up details in the characters, filmmaker James Gunn has penned a visual narrative in this otherwise predictable storyline.

With over five post-credits scene, the last installment of GotG is expected to be a more grandiose inter-galactic adventure. While traditional comic book enthusiasts might be disappointed with the film as it steers of the original storyline, it is a must-watch for fans of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.